Police End Tehran Protest With Tear Gas

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 22, 2009 9:38 AM CDT
Police End Tehran Protest With Tear Gas
Supporters of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi run from tear gas fired by riot police during a protest in Tehran on Saturday, June 20, 2009.   (AP Photo)

Police used tear gas against hundreds of protesters in Tehran today and fired warning shots into the air, the Guardian reports. About 200 had gathered to protest in Haft-e-Tir square, defying the Revolutionary Guard’s warning that it would crack down on further demonstrations. Hundreds of police descended to disperse them, preventing even small groups from gathering or standing still, as helicopters hovered overhead.

"There is a massive, massive, massive police presence," one witness told the AP. "Their presence was really intimidating." At least 17 protesters have been killed in the ongoing post-election unrest. The Revolutionary Guard called the demonstrations a “conspiracy” against Iran and warned protesters to be “prepared for a resolution and revolutionary confrontation with the guards.” (More Iran stories.)

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